EXTRACTED from a Majlis of Moulana Naeem Motala
23/06/2016 (After Taraweeh /Ramadan 1437) Musjid e Noor ~ Durban ~ South Africa
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يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ
O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaytaan (Satan), then, verily he commands Al-Fahsha’ [i.e. to commit indecency (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.)], and Al-Munkar [disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islam, etc.)] ~ Surah Noor 24:21
الْأَخِلَّاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ
Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous ~ Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:67
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا
And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, “Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way (straight path) ~ Surah Al-Furqaan 25:27
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Choosing the Correct Friends
Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam have warned us not to adopt the company of wicked and evil friends. Friends who have a negative impact on one’s life, easily mislead one by taking one away from the obedience of Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam has therefore strongly advised us of the importance of choosing good company.
He (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so you should look at whom you befriend.” [Tirmidhi]
Choosing to befriend righteous and virtuous Muslims is therefore a necessary means for staying on Siraatul Mustaqeem (the straight path).
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A Friend has an Effect on his Friend
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was asked, “Which person should we adopt as a friend?” He (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) replied: “One whose appearance reminds you of Allah, and whose speech increases you in knowledge, and whose actions remind you of the hereafter.”
One begins to adopt the style and behaviour of his friends. So, before you choose a friend, enquire about his Akhlaaq (morals and character) analyse his habits, look into his way of life … does he frequent good environments, is he Allah fearing, is he pious company?
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam best described the difference between the good companion and the bad companion when he said,
“ مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَمَثَلِ صَاحِبِ الْمِسْكِ، وَكِيرِ الْحَدَّادِ، لاَ يَعْدَمُكَ مِنْ صَاحِبِ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا تَشْتَرِيهِ، أَوْ تَجِدُ رِيحَهُ، وَكِيرُ الْحَدَّادِ يُحْرِقُ بَدَنَكَ أَوْ ثَوْبَكَ أَوْ تَجِدُ مِنْهُ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً ”.
“The example of a good companion and a bad one, is like that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith (respectively). As for the seller of the musk, he would either grant you some, or you may purchase it from him, or (at least) you would enjoy a pleasant fragrance from him. As for the blacksmith, then either he will burn your clothes or you would get an offensive smell from him.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
By befriending a perfume-seller, one will unquestionably benefit by being enveloped in the sweet smells emanating in his company. Even, if one is not purchasing the perfume, merely standing in his shop, will be advantageous to the person when the effects of the fragrant smell stick to his clothing. Like that is the company of a good person.
The parable of evil company is likened to a blacksmith, who is labouring away in his workshop, filled with unpleasant stenchy smoke. The effects of the foul odour and black fumes cling onto a persons clothes, blackening them. Like that is the company of an evil person.
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Choose your friends wisely!… Are they bearers of beautiful fragrances or dark clouds of toxic fumes? … They could become the reason for our entering into Jannah or Jahannam?
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